Harvester



Jan. 2, 1934. M BAKER 1,941,821

HARVESTER Filed May 31, 1930 INVENTOR F1 5 E M BY W/T/Vf-S'S M/ zm- M W Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HARVESTER.

Mervin R. Baker, Leland, 111., assignor to Deere &

Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois This invention relates to tractor propelled binders and more particularly to a draft tongue for such type of binder, so constructed and arranged that the conventional transport wheel adapted to I be secured to the binder on the side of the tongue, can be readily mounted without requiring the disassembly of the draft tongue nor of the power take-off means mounted thereon.

Tractor binders are usually transported to or from the field upon a set of transport wheels mounted transversely to the regular bull wheel and platform supporting wheel so that the binder may be drawn in a direction transversely to the normal direction of travel of the binder. The transport wheels are usually mounted on the front and rear sides of the binder just inside the bull wheel and adjacent thereto. These transport wheels are generally journaled on short stub axles which are adapted to be secured in brackets on 20 the binder frame.

A draft tongue with a power take-off means mounted thereon is usually secured to the binder frame approximately in line with and ahead of the bull wheel, so that the tongue is in a position immediately over one of the transport wheels and interferes with the mounting of the transport wheel. Heretofore, in order to position the transport wheel on the tongue side of the binder, it has been necessary to remove the draft tongue and also disconnect the power take-off means, and the binder tilting lever connection to the tongue. This difiiculty is obviated by the present invention in making it possible to swing the center member of the draft tongue forwardly, thereby giving sufiicient space between the two outer members of the draft tongue to accommodate the transport wheel. Thus the draft tongue and all the parts mounted thereon need not be disconnected when the binder is to be transported. The main object of this invention is the provision of a draft tongue for a tractor binder which need not be disconnected therefrom when it is desired to mount a transport wheel on the binder.

Another object is the provision of a draft tongue wherein the center member of the tongue may be disconnected from the binder to provide a space for accommodating the mounting of the transport wheel.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the draft tongue of a binder, showing a portion of the binder, in its transport position;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the normal operating position of the draft tongue; and

Figure 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3.

In the drawing in Figures 1 and 2, I have fragmentarily illustrated a portion of a binder A, comprising a frame portion 5, conveyor 6 and bull wheel '7. Secured to the frame portion 5 and extending outwardly therefrom are two brackets 8 and 9. A third bracket 11 is suitably mounted on the conveyor frame of the binder. Pivotally secured to the brackets 8, 9 and 11, is a draft tongue 12 comprising three forwardly converging members 13, 14 and 15 respectively (as shown in Figure 3), connected together at their forward ends and suitably braced by brace members 16, 17 and 18. Bolts 19, 21 and 22 respectively connect the tongue members to the brackets 8, 9 and 11. The forward ends of the two outer tongue members 13 and 15 are adapted to establish the draft connection with the tractor.

A power take-01f connection B is carried by the tongue and comprises two universal joints 23 and 25 connected together by an intermediate shaft 24. A telescopic shaft member 26 connects universal joint 25 with a tractor power connection (not shown) while universal joint 23 is connected to the binder drive shaft 2'7. The shaft 24 is suitably supported upon the tongue 12 by means of stirrup brackets 29 and 31, fixed to members 14 and 15 at their lower ends and supporting a shaft bearing member 32 adjacent their upper ends, and being suitably secured to each other at their upper ends. Brace rods 33 and 35 brace the stirrup brackets 29 and 31. Bearing 32 has a pair of oppositely extending trunnions 36 journaled in recesses in the stirrup brackets 29 and 31, whereby the bearing may tilt therein. The shaft 24 can also slide in the bearing 32. A guard plate 37 is suitably secured at one end to the upper ends of the stirrup braces 29 and 31, its opposite end being supported in spaced relation to the tongue 12 by brace rods 38 and 39.

The tilt of the binder is controlled by means of a tilting lever 41 having secured thereto at 1 its pivoted end, an arm 42, extending beyond the pivoted end of the lever 41, through a link 43 pivotally connected at one end to the outer end of arm 42 by means of a bolt 44. Link 43 comprises two members 45, 46 suitably pivoted in spaced relation, to a brace support 47, extending between brace bar 16 and tongue member 15.

A series of holes 48 is provided in each of the members 45 and 46 for adjusting the pivotal connection point between the links 42 and 43, to change the range of tilting of the binder.

Inasmuch as binders are generally transported in a direction perpendicular to the line of normal travel of the binder, a set of transport wheels is usually mounted transversely to the regular bull wheel 7. The usual positions of these wheels are on the front and rear sides of the binder slightly ahead of the bull Wheel. The draft tongue, ordinarily mounted as shown in the drawing, interferes with the attachment of the transport wheel on the tongue side of the binder, and the usual procedure in applying this transport wheel involves the removal of the tongue and disconnection of the power take-off mechanism B.

In the instant invention, this dimculty is obviated by constructing the middle member 14 of the draft tongue in two sections 49 and 51, which in normal operative position as shown in Figure 3, are connected together to form a substantially rigid element by bolts 52 and 53. Referring to Figure 4, the bolt 52 passes through aligned recesses in member 51 and brace 16, and through a bushing 54 seated in a recess in member 49. Bushing 54 is provided with a flange 55 against which the member 49 bears, the bushing acting as a journal member about which the member 49 is adapted to rotate.

Transport wheel 56 is journaled on the end of a stub axle 57, which is adapted to be detachably supported in holes in brackets 58 and 59 fixed to a transverse binder frame member 61, the end of which constitutes the bracket 9. Bracket 58 comprises two laterally extending lugs 62 and 63 having aligned perforations adapted to register with a hole in axle 57 through which a bolt 64 passes for retaining the axle 57 in stationary position. As stated above, the wheel 56 is usually positioned below the draft tongue 12.

When the transport wheel 56 is to be attached, pivot bolt 21 and bolt 53 are removed and the member 49 rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 to the position therein shown, after which the bolt 53 may be replaced. By placing the tilting link connection bolt 44 in the lowermost hole of the series of holes in the members 45 and 46 and swinging the tilting lever 41 to its lowest position, the draft tongue 12 may be elevated to the position shown in Figure 2. The transport wheel and its axle 57 may now be attached to brackets 58 and 59 as a unit. It is to be noted that when the draft tongue is in elevated position, the overall width of the machine is reduced.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient draft tongue which permits of the easy attachment of the transport wheel on the tongue side of the binder without requiring removal of either the tongue or the power take-off connection carried thereby, or the disconnection of the binder tilting mechanism.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself thereto. As'will be understood by those skilled in the art, numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A draft tongue adapted to be connected with an implement and comprising a multiplicity of interconnected elements, each being adapted for connection with said implement, one of said elements having two pivotally connected sections, one of said sections being detachable from said implement and movable relative to the other of said sections and relative to the other elements to reduce the efiective length of said one element.

2. A draft tongue adapted to be connected with an implement and comprising a multiplicity of converging elements, each being adapted for independent pivotal connection with said implement and having their converging ends fixedly connected together, said elements being adapted to swing as a unit relative to said implement, one of said elements having a portion thereof connected for pivotalmovement relative to the other portion thereof and relative to the other elements.

3. A draft tongue for a vehicle, comprising two draft members having their outer ends connected and terminating in a hitch, the free ends of said members providing means for attachment to a vehicle and spaced points thereon, the draft tongue also having extensiblenieans for optionally connecting with said vehicle at a point spaced from the aforementioned spaced points.

4. In combination, a binder, a draft means comprising a multiplicity of elements in one plane, a transport means adapted to be secured to said binder andadapted to occupy a space in the plane of the draft means, one of the elements of said draft means being movable relative to said other elements and adapted tobe moved out of the space adapted to be occupied by said transport means.

5. In combination, a binder, a draft tongue pivoted thereon, and a transport wheel adapted to be mounted on said binder, said tongue including pivoted means normally disposed in the space to be occupiedbythe transport wheel for connection with said binder and being movable relvativeto said draft tongue and out of saidspace without necessitating the detachment of said tongue from the binder. 1

6. In combination, a binder, draft means thereon, and-removable transport means for connection with said binder adjacent "the draft means, said draft means including means connected for movement relative thereto into and outof the space normally occupied by said transport means when the latter is connected with the binder.

7. In combination, a binder, draft means'pivoted to one side thereof, and transport means adapted to be mounted on the binder on said side, said draft means including pivoted means normally occupying the space to be occupied by the transport means and. movable out of said space to accommodate said transport means.

8. In combination, a binder, draft means thereon, transport means adapted to be connected with said binder adjacent the draft means, said draft means including pivoted means normally occupying the space to be'occupied by the transport means, said pivoted means being movable out of said space when connecting said transport means, and means for elevatinglthe outer end of said draft means into transport position.

9. In combinatioma binder, draft means thereon, transport means adapted to be -mounted on said binder substantially in the same plane of the draft means, said draft means including pivoted means normally disposed in the plane of said draft means and connected with said binder, said pivoted means being adapted to be pivoted vertically out of the plane of said draft means to accommodate said transport means, and means for elevating said draft means.

10. In combination, a binder having a bull wheel and a removable transport wheel connected therewith, a draft tongue pivotally connected to the binder and comprising three forwardly converging members, said removable transport wheel occupying a position in the plane of the draft tongue, said draft tongue members being pivoted to the binder on alined pivots at their rear ends, the center member being connected ith said tongue for movement relative thereto to provide a space between the two outer members for the transport wheel without necessitating the removal of said outer draft tongue members from said binder.

11. A draft tongue for vehicles comprising a plurality of draft members terminating at one end in a hitch, the other ends of said members providing means for connection with a vehicle, and means disposed intermediate the length of one of said members to reduce the overall length of said one member.

12. A draft tongue for vehicles comprising two draft members having their outer ends connected and terminating in a hitch, the free ends of said members providing means for attachment to a vehicle at spaced points thereon, said members having extensible means for optional connection with said vehicle at a point intermediate the spaced connections of said draft members with said vehicle.

13. In combination, a binder, a draft means comprising a multiplicity of elements in one plane, a transport means adapted to be secured to said binder and adapted to occupy a space in the plane of the draft means, one of the elements of said draft means being pivotally connected for movement relative to and out of the plane of said other elements to provide an open space in said draft means to accommodate said transport means. MERVIN R. BAKER. 

